Surname Alte - Meaning and Origin
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Alte: What does the surname Alte mean?
The last name Alte or Alté is an occupational surname of German origin. It derives from the German word "Alte," meaning "old," and would have referred to an elder person of importance or authority within a community. The name may also be derived from the German term "alte," meaning "altar," and could have referred to its original bearer as a priest or church official.
Alte could also be an abbreviation of the German word "Aeltester," which denotes "the oldest" or "foremost" person. The Alte surname could have served as a distinguisher between two persons who filled the same post. It is thought to have been adopted in Germany during the Middle Ages.
The German-speaking areas of Europe were the first to settle in North America in the late 1700s and early 1800s. As a result, Alte is an especially common last name among German-American populations. It is also commonplace in other countries including Canada, Argentina, and New Zealand, where German immigrants settled. A notable bearer of the Alte surname was British actress Sophie Alte, who had German ancestry.
The name Alte is believed to imply qualities such as determination, loyalty, and a sense of duty and responsibility. Those with this last name often display these qualities. The Alte surname is associated with a long tradition of hard work, dedication, and a strong set of values.
Order DNA origin analysisAlte: Where does the name Alte come from?
The last name Alte is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also found in small numbers in other places in Europe, North America, and South America.
In Germany, the name Alte is of rather old origin and is found mostly in the western part of the country. It is believed to have started out as adiminutive of Altmann, combining 'alt' or old with 'mann' or man, and initially denoted someone who was a senior member of society. It is estimated to have been around since the 12th century.
In Austria, the name Alte is of more recent origin, having been used since about the 16th century. It is believed to be of Germanic or Jewish origin, and could represent a nickname for someone who was old or wise.
In Switzerland, the name is found almost exclusively in the German-speaking part. There, it is thought to have been derived from a diminutive of the word 'alti' or 'alte'. This was possibly a nickname for someone who was old or wise.
Throughout the rest of Europe, North and South America, and even parts of Africa and Australia, the name Alte is not as common, but it can still be found. In many of these places, it is likely to have been introduced by immigrants from Germany, Austria, or Switzerland at some point over the last few hundred years.
Variations of the surname Alte
The surname Alte is derived from the German word Alt, meaning old. As a surname, Alte has a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Alter, Allt, Altwegg, Altbek, Altbacker, Altmeyer, Altmann, Altmüller, Altmus, Altberg, Altbauer, Altbach, Alten, Altner, Altgaf, Altneu, Altner, Alto and Altbauer.
The variants of the surname Alte are all derived from the same root word. Alter is derived from the Middle High German word “alt”, Allt and Altwegg come from the Old High German words “alt” and “wegga” respectively, and Altbek and Altbacker come from the Old High German word “alt” and “bacher”. Altmeyer, Altmann, Altmüller, Altmus, Altberg, Altbauer and Altbach come from the German words “alt”, “meyer”, “mann”, “müller”, “mus”, “berg” and “bach” respectively. Alten and Altner come from the German words “alt” and “ner” respectively. Altgaf, Altneu, Alto and Altbauer come from the German words “alt”, “gaf”, “neu”, “alt” and “bauer” respectively.
Throughout the world, variants of the surname Alte can be found, primarily in countries with a strong German-speaking influence, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Germany, France, Austria and the Czech Republic.
Famous people with the name Alte
- Rafael Alte, Spanish footballer
- Nick Alte, American producer and actor
- John Alte, American broadcaster and popular radio host
- Mo Alte, German architect and entrepreneur
- Ryan Alte, American reality TV star
- David Alte, Dutch professional footballer
- Stolle Alte, Swedish comedian
- Maria Alte, German sprinter
- Nina Alte, Brazilian journalist
- Fabian Alte, German film director and screenwriter